08/25/2026
🚨 BEFORE YOUR PET GOES UNDER ANESTHESIA, ASK THESE QUESTIONS
Could your dog or cat be at risk during anesthesia?
Yes.
Any dog or cat can have anesthesia risks, even if they are young and healthy.
That does not mean you should panic.
It means you should ask good questions.
If your pet is going in for surgery, a dental cleaning, spay, neuter, lump removal, or any procedure requiring anesthesia, your job is not to be difficult.
Your job is to be involved.
The big areas to ask about:
• Pre-anesthetic testing
• Patient monitoring
• Equipment checks
• CO2 absorbents
• Written anesthesia records
• Anesthesia checklists
• Body temperature support
• Operating room cleanliness
• Surgical hand preparation
A young pet is not automatically a no-risk pet. Even healthy patients should still have a proper exam and basic testing.
Ask:
“Will my pet have a preoperative exam and basic blood work?”
Also ask who monitors your pet during anesthesia and recovery.
That last part matters because many anesthesia-related deaths happen during recovery. Monitoring should not stop just because surgery is finished.
Ask about the anesthesia machine. Is it checked for leaks? Are vaporizers calibrated every 3 to 5 years? Are CO2 absorbents checked or changed regularly?
Ask if the team keeps a written anesthesia monitoring record, including drugs, doses, monitoring values, events, and recovery notes.
Most importantly, ask:
“How do you keep pets warm before, during, and after anesthesia?”
Hypothermia is the most common complication during anesthesia and recovery. It can prolong recovery, increase stress, and reduce immune response.
Warming should start early, not after your pet is already cold.
And please, no electric heating pads. Warm is good. Burned is bad.
You are not being annoying.
You are being your pet’s advocate.